Download Ch. 15: Section I: Europe Looks Outward (Pages

Ch. 15: Section I: Europe Looks Outward
(Pages 336-342)
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This section is about:
How the Polo family’s travels
to China encouraged
European interest in the East
and led to the search for
direct trade routes to the
area as well as the arrival of
Christian missionaries from
Europe.
How technological
advancements encouraged
exploration during this time.
•The Renaissance and
Reformation were a big
time in the history of the
world – big changes come
during/afterwards.
•We can see that in what
the book has on page 336.
•Let’s also look at the
picture on those pages.
•We should also look at the
timeline.
Europe Looks Outward
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Look at the Main Ideas on page
338.
And… look at the “Active
Reading” at the top right of the
page.
Since ancient times, people in
Europe and Asia tried to trade
with each other – and look for
the easiest ways to get
commodities back and forth.
Before the big boats, they used
caravans – across the land.
By the 1200’s, the Silk Road
had been around for a while
and trade also included stops in
the Middle East and their
markets.
(things that can be bought or sold – or even just things of value)
Italian Traders Reach Europe
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In 1260, Niccolo and Maffeo Polo
traveled to the western edge of the
Mongol Empire.
In 1265, part of their group decided
to go further.
This group had a chance to visit the
court of Kublai Kahn – and see firsthand the city they had heard great
stories about (Cathay had walls of
silver and towers of gold).
The Polo brothers became friends
with Kublai Kahn and became his
ambassadors. (spokesmen)
They even carried letters back to the
pope.
On their next trip, they brought their
son, Marco Polo.
Have you ever been somewhere
special, liked it so much that you told
all your friends they should go there?
That’s what the Polo’s did.
Tales of the East
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The Polos stayed in China for
17 years.
Marco took notes about what
he saw and experienced.
Back in Venice he wrote a
book: The Travels of Marco
Polo.
He wrote: Cathay’s capital had
“everything that is most rare
and valuable in all parts of the
world”
And about Japan – which had
a palace with “gold in the
greatest abundance.”
Looking for New Trade Routes
(High Prices for Eastern Goods)
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In the 1300’s, Europeans
used spices to season and
preserve food (cinnamon,
nutmeg, cloves, pepper)
and also used in cosmetics
and perfumes and in
medicines.
Goods had to go through
many “middle men” to get
back and forth, so they
ended up being expensive.
A cheaper way than all the
trading was direct trade – if
they could find a direct and
safe route.
(1598)
Dangerous Land Routes
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When the Mongols ruled
(controlled) Asia, things were
pretty safe.
When their empire broke up,
no-one could promise a safe
trip through Asia and the
Middle east.
And, the Ottoman Turks
(Muslims) saw these European
Christian traders and “nonbelievers.”
By 1453, the Ottomans had
blocked most trade routes to
Europeans (Constantinople
was open, but they controlled
it).
Spreading Christianity
Missionaries Head East
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Besides trade, Europeans also
wanted to travel east – to spread
Christianity
For religious reasons (save souls)
and for political reasons – to have
more Christians to fight the
Muslims.
Monks had been traveling the same
roads as Marco Polo – to try and
convert the Mongols in the area.
Several monks did end up visiting
China (some staying most of the
rest of their lives)
Voyages with Several Purposes
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Europeans started their
voyages of exploration during
the time of the Renaissance.
This was a time of great
curiosity and independent
thinking and action.
It was also a time of new
technologies – many centering
around new ships and their
navigation
Page 341 (in “ “) – by Vasco
da Gama: “… to serve God
and his Majesty, to give light
to those who were in
darkness, and to grow rich as
all men desire to do.”
We usually call this: G, G, & G
God, Glory, and Gold
Tools for Navigation
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The two most important sailing
tools of the 1400’s:
A magnetic compass: helped
point out direction.
An astrolabe: figured out
latitude (their distance
north/south of the equator).
They also began to get more
detailed charts and maps to
help their navigation (course of
a ship).
They could explore some more
and then make new maps of
uncharted territories.
Ships for Long Trips
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There were 2 types of 15th
Century Ships: The Long Ship
and the Round Ship
A Long Ship had oars and
sails: fast and easy to handle,
but needed a large crew and
had little room for anything
else.
Round Ship: sail power, less
costly to run, and lots of
storage for food/weapons.
Also stronger and better in
stormy weather.
There was a special type of a
Round Ship…
The Caravel
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Was a small, light ship with
triangular sails.
It was easy to move about in
changing winds and ocean
currents.
With the sails, it could also sail
into the wind.
It could also carry heavy
weapons along it’s sides.
But, they did require deep
harbors, which many ports in
Europe had to expand.
….
Ch. 15: Section II: Portugal Leads the Way
(Pages 344-349)
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This section is about:
How Prince Henry the
Navigator sent out explorers,
including Vasco da Gama, to
seek a trade route to the East
around the African continent.
The trading empires
established by the
Portuguese, English, Dutch,
Spanish, and French in the
East.
Giant Statue Commemorating Exploration in Lisbon, Portugal
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There are two big
exploration names in the
“Main Ideas” on page
344.
We should look at the
map on page 348: let’s
see which countries
we’re looking at in this
section?
Have you ever been part
of a group who wanted
to do something special?
And… maybe you even
became the leader or
helped out in a special
way?
That’s some of what this
section’s about.
Exploration Under Henry the Navigator
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The Portuguese were the
first Europeans to look for
a sea route to Asia.
Over a 40 year period
(1419-1459), Prince
Henry sent out many
expeditions.
He also supported
research in navigation
and boat design.
So… people call him
Henry the Navigator.
A Sailing
Study Center
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Prince Henry set up a “school” for
the best sailors, geographers,
shipbuilders, mapmakers,
astronomers and makers of tools.
These were the people who
designed the caravels (last
section).
Henry had many reasons for all this:
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He was curious about the world.
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Navigation and shipbuilding
fascinated him.
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He wanted to find direct routes for
trade.
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He wanted to use his knowledge
to oppose the power of the
Muslims.
Down the African Coast
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Henry sent out many
expeditions (reaching the Azores
was first).
He kept sending people to
explore further and further
along the coast of Africa,
naming capes, bays and rivers
as he went.
But, they found trading with the
Africans was disappointing (only
fish, seal oil and sealskins).
He wanted more and knew
there was more.
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There were much more
valuable commodities
further south and in the
Middle East (gold dust,
ivory, pepper, and slaves).
Eventually he got far
enough to get some of
these – and set up the
first overseas European
trading post.
By the time Henry died in
1460, they had gotten all
the way to the Congo
River
Towards the Indian Ocean
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After Henry he
Navigator died,
exploration slowed
down some.
Without Henry’s
support, sailors weren’t
as good, and many
were worried about
unsafe exploration.
But some forts were
built for protection,
including one by King
John II in Guinea.
Bartolomeu Dias Rounds Africa
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King John sent out more
expeditions to see if they could
get the rest of the way around
Africa.
In 1487, Bartolomeu Dias (and 3
ships) sailed – and soon
encountered horrible weather.
They weren’t even sure of where
they were going, so his men
convinced him to turn around.
As they were heading back to
Portugal, they realized they had
passed the southern tip of Africa.
At first Dias called it “The Cape
of Storms” but the Portuguese
king decided to call it “The Cape
of Good Hope.”
It did prove there was a chance
to go all the way around Africa
Vasco da Gama Sails to India
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The Portuguese were still determined
to get to Asia by sailing around
Africa.
10 years later (1497), Vasco da
Gama set sail (4 ships/170 sailors)
with the goal of reaching Calcutta,
India.
He had the newest maps, tools, and
tables of the time.
He passed the rough seas of The
Cape of Good Hope – and kept
going, staying close to land until they
hit Mozambique.
He finally made it (months later).
In 1499, 2 of his ships came back to
Portugal, filled with pepper,
cinnamon, and spices.
His proof that Europe could get to
India by sea had a great impact on
politics and business of the time.
Trading Empires
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The Portuguese mainly
explored because it was
their way to get rich.
In western Africa they
quickly took control of the
gold trade.
They also built trading
posts with forts.
But not in East Africa and
India.
In the Indian Ocean area,
trade was controlled by
the Arabs
The Portuguese
Take Control
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When they went back to the
Indian Ocean (after Vasco da
Gama’s expedition), they
brought force (a fleet of ships
to stand guard, and bases for
their ships).
The Arabs didn’t like that and
decided to attack, but the
Portuguese had better ships
and beat the Arabs.
Only 15 years after da Gama’s
trip, the Portuguese controlled
all the Indian Ocean.
They next started trade and
posts all the way to eastern
China and Japan
Power Shifts in the East
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Portugal’s trading empire
began to break up about
1580.
Henry the Navigator and
King John were gone for
over 100 years.
Spain was beginning to
become wealthy and
powerful.
They even split up some
lands they both wanted in
the Americas – in the
Treaty of Tordesillas
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Other European countries also
wanted to trade in those
areas.
In the 1600’s, trade was
controlled by companies (not
countries) like the East India
Company and the Dutch East
India Company.
These companies were
controlled by shareholders,
who provided the company
with money.
Over the next 60 years, the
Dutch took control of many
Portuguese trading territories.
By 1641, the Dutch controlled
the spice trade.
At the same time, the English
and the French were starting
to gain more power.
…